Revoluble step bearing



June 21, 1932. w. G. OBRYAN 1,854,461

REVOLUBLE STEP BEARING Filed June 1o. 1931 Vgn IMI lmlllllnllnllmllllllllml Patented June 21, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE t WILLIAM GARVIN OBRYAN, OF SEASIDE, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR l'I DEXTER M. ROGERS, OF PACIFIC GROVE, CALIFORNIA REVYOL'UBLE STEP BEARING` Application led .Tune 10,

ever applicable.

y For the present purpose I illustrate my invention as applied to what may be regarded as therunning-board of an automotive vehicle. p

The objects of my invention comprise the following desiderata, as well as further obyjectsand advantages which may appear as the specification unfolds and the invention is fully understood.

To providea revoluble step bearing of neatv and attractive appearance that will be in keeping with the general trend toward elegance in fine automobiles. p

To provideran article the body of -which may be factory made by modern methods of stamping," `and adaptable to be beautied by plating. p

To provide a stationary base-member hav` ing concentric corrugations in high relief on the lower side, certain of said corrugations being spaced 'apart by flat areas arranged and adapted to carryk a plurality of lugs,leach lugprovide'd with means' mounting an in- 'sertable boltl adapted to secure the device to the'running board so that said basevwill be looked against rotary movement, or other displacement. v 1

To provide certain, trans-slit rings which may well be of stout gauge wireof any suitable metal such' as steel orfbravss. Said rings being warped outV of'a true plane so that the respective ends will be laterallyoif-set from To provide an upper plate concentrically fastened to the lower plate for revoluble movement, and having a concentric, stiftening groove adjacent said fastener, said groove forming a high-relief element on the lower side o f said upper plate and arranged to cooperate with a complemental groove in the base plate, to center said plates and relieve the strain and wear onV said fastener.

l To provide means to fasten said base and upper plate together in-revoluble relation,

1931. Serial No. 543,442.

means to secure said rings -between said plates so as to suppress said warps and apply spring resistance between said plates so as to reduce chatter and aid revoluble movement when supporting the weight of aperson; to provide an outer, dependingl flange for the upper plate and groove means in the base plate arranged to hold a wick-like packing in close contact with the interior of said flange, said packing also being arranged to l act as a seal to prevent escape of lubricant from theinterior of the device..

To provide a cover for saidupper plate comprising a high-relief rubber element cemented thereto and provided with a'bezely disposed below the level of the tread of the cover, said bezel being a press-fit over said flange and adapted to hold the edges of the cover in close Contact with said'upper plate. h To provide aplurality of cup-like'elements i on the upper surface of said cover, said elements being adapted to apply suction to the shoe of user when trodden on and thus reduce liability of the foot to slip, and minimizel accident when getting in or out of the car, in wet or freezing weather especially.

To provide an article which can be packed flat with the securing bolts included and afiXable thereto when ready for use. To provide an article of the kind described appropriate to the most luxurious, or the cheaper makes of cars at a reasonable price, as hereinafter described, particularly pointed out in the claims and illustrated in the ac'- companying drawing attached hereto and made part hereof, in which vFigure l shows atop plan view of my. invention.

Figure 2 shows a section taken on the line' II-II of Figure l.

Figure 3 shows a bottom plan view. Figure 4 is a side elevational view ofthe outer warped ring.

Figure 5 shows a side elevational view an inner warped ring. y

Similar reference indicia refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring in detail to the drawing A designates the running-board of a vehicle such ofl as an automobile, to which my revoluble stepbearing is attached.

The device comprises the stationary base plate B and the revoluble upper plate C, both of circular outline, and preferably stamped from thin gaugedsheet rmetalsuch as steel or brass.

The plate B has stamped into its upper surface the concentric grooves 8, i and 5 and the depressed recess 'of less depth thanY said grooves.

The depressed element 7 is stamped downwardly in the plate C so as to nest into the recess 6 and so form ac revoluble center' for said plate when held together by a fastenerr'whichY may -well be the rivet 8 passing through a' centralv perforation in each plate.

It will be'y noted that the plate C is plain from the: outer edge of the element 7. to the spring of thearch formed by the raised rim 9,.Which curves over to produce the downf wardly. extending, peripheral flange 10.

Itl willbe seen that a flat, annular concen* tric area of contact is provided between said plates by stamping. the plate B upwardly at 1'1, thereby providing arch-like support for the center of the device, the feet of said: arch being formed by the respective inwardly sloping walls 12-12, thus attaining a structurev of great load-sustaining capacity while using metal of` light gauge with corresponding. economy inr cost yof material and power consumed in the stamping operations; the latter a feature which enables me to produce -themanufactured article with presses of less vpower than would beneededV if heavier gauge metal hadv to'beiused. Y

`The respective grooves-z3, j and 5 are all preferablyv in the same plane..

Clips `13 are provided on the? Linder side ofthe plate B, being eithei` riveted or spotwelded thereto.` Said clips maybe attached atj` any suitable surface Vof the plate B'. so long as they do not project belowthe plane thereof.

In. Figure 3 there are three said. clips set onei hundred and twenty degrees apart.

In` Figure 2,'.two said clips are shown set diametrally, with the bolts Mseouring the device to the running board A. Said bolts are provided with. flat heads adaptable to be slipped into the slots 15 and held there against rotation, either by contact with contiguous members of saidplate as indicated in dotted lines at 16, Figure 3, or in other suitablemanner. The lip 17 may be slightly sprung to admit the bolt-head.

The respective corrugations, or grooves 4 and 5- house the respective warped rings 18 and 19 which, when the device is assembled and 'stepped' upon set up a. squeezing action whichrtends to circulate lubricative grease contained within the chambered' space 20 thus facilitating rotary movement of the plate C besides preventing chatter while the vehicle is in motion.

The groove 3 accommodates the packing member 21, preferably of felt-like material of resilient absorbent nature, which when the' plates A. and B are drawn together by the fastener 8 will fill the groove 22, thus forming a seal to prevent escape of lubricant from the cavity 20. Y

It will be noted by Figures 2, 4- and 5 that said rings are of circular form and round cross-section although obviously I do not wish to confine myself to the particular crosssectional shape as other than round section could be used.

The rubber cover or mat 23. is preferably cementedl to the topl surfacetof the plate G andis reduced: in thickness on the outer edge so that the bezel 24'will be disposedbelow the general. level of saidk mat. Said bezel is a nice press fit over the flange; 10, its lower edgeY 25 being slightly inturned; below that of the flange 10; As so disposedfandfarranged said bezel forms a protection for' the outer edge of said mat and tends to retainv it in position',` besides` lend-ing; an attractive appearance and finish to the'device wheny plated.

It will be observed that the upper surface of said matV is provided withfa plurality of suction cup-elements 26,' which may be arrangedV tov form an outer ring design,A and others as` 27 occupying interior; positions.

It will be noted by Figure 2 that said elements are adapted. to, cling tofthe'foot when trodden on, by expellance of airy from said elements which creates. suction.,

A paper or cardboard' templetv is provided in the package to gauge the bolt-holesA to be made in the running board after which the device can be set in place and'be secured e by the nuts 28 engaging said boltsand if necessary the bolt ends may be bu-rred to lock them. 1

`Although I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention, it is to.v

be understood that thel same is susceptible of various changes, and I, reserve the right to employ such changes as may come within the scope of the claims hereto attached.

I claim:-

1. In a device of the characterdescribed, a stationary base plate, a revoluble upper plate, container-grooves in the base plate, warped, trans-slit rings in the grooves, said upper plate arranged to bear downV on. said rings, and means` pivotally connecting said plates together.

2. In a device of the character described, a stationary base plate carrying a revoluble step plate, arched means formed in the base plate at the center thereof, and raised zones spacing depressed c'orrugations arranged t'o house antifrictional elements.

3. In a device of the; character described, a stationary base plate, a revoluble stepY plate Cil on the base plate, a peripheral upwardly arched element forming a corresponding 

